The Crafty Lady: All Toned Up!

Monday, April 15, 2019

All Toned Up!

Do you live a colourful life?

By that, I mean, do you knit, crochet, embroider and/or quilt by following patterns exactly -- right down to the colours used? Or do you take the pattern and run with it, colour-wise?

I confess I'm of the latter group. I love to play with colour -- and use colours that make me feel good or that suit the person for whom I'm creating, regardless of what the pattern's designer originally used.

I wasn't always this way, though -- especially in my quilting life. When I began as a quilter about 25 years ago, I bought pre-selected bundles of fabric -- where all the fabrics were co-ordinated -- or I bought and assembled kits.

Over the years, though, I studied some Colour Theory, and have learned a LOT!

Source: Color Wheel Artist

In addition to the primary hues (red, yellow and blue) and the neutrals (black, white and grey, which aren't hues), there are tints (hues with white added) and shades (hues with black added)...

And there are tones -- hues with grey added, as you see in the picture on the right.

Tones are popular because the grey that's been added to the original hue(s) reduces the intensity. Just the right amount of grey creates a more complex colour that is also often considered more sophisticated than true, bright colours, which are often associated with children -- especially in the realm of clothes, toys and/or furnishings.

In the last few years, for both fabric and yarns, tones -- greyed colours -- have been offered up in layers of tints and shades, for what's referred to as a "tonal" effect.

And we have as this week's Super Special such a yarn, which will give you a fabric that is textured with tints and shades of a single colour. It's chunky, so it's just right for hats, scarves, mittens, boot toppers or cowls, when you're in the mood for accessories that have subtle texture, and perhaps just a bit of sophistication.

King Cole

Big Value Tonal Chunky